Doll eye



D. COHN Aug. 12, 1947.

DOLL EYE I Filed 001).. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

DAV ID (10m:

his ATTORNEYS DOLL EYE .Filed Oct. 1;, 1945 I 2 Sheets-She et 2 FIELG INVENTOR- Y DAVID CQHN his ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1947 pom. EYE

D v m B k y assisnc to Mar cn Corporation, Newark, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Ap o O to r 11, 1 45. Ser al N9. 621 815 This invention relates to doll eyes.

The prime object of the present invention is to produce doll eyes, especially of the movable type, embodying an improved structure and introducing improved manufacturing methods.

Heretofore, doll eyes have been made in either inexpensive or expensive forms. The inexpensive form consisted simply of a sheet metal shell lithographed and colored to simulate the eyelid, eyeball and iris of the eye. Such eyes lack the lustre and depth of the more expensive eyes. The latter were made of difierent types, the'rnost common form comprising an eye made of two parts consisting of a shell made of sheet metal cut out at the center to receive a transparent lens or iris usually made of a plastic material. In this form, the metal-eye shell has to be made to simulate both the lid (when the eye is moved to sleeping position), and the eyeball (when the eye is moved to open position) and the metal shell, therefore,

has to be lithographed and colored in two 'dif-' ferent colors, namely, flesh color for the lid simulation, and White color for the eyeball simulation.

The disadvantages encountered in' the manufacture of this described form of the more expensive doll eyes are many. The coloring (enamel coating) of the eye shell has to be done in one or more operations before shell-shaping. If either of the differently colored coatings of the eye shell is damaged during shaping, as for instance by scratching or abrading, the whole eye shell has to be discarded. The colored coatings are but superficial and hence impart an artificial appearance to the eye. The metal shell after being shaped has to be embossed to form a seat for the plastic iris or lens, and the irishas to be secured in place by peening or forcing the eye opening edge material of the shell over or into the plastic iris. These forming and assembling operations are difficult, require skill, and often damage and mar the eye.

The doll eye of the present invention has been designed to obviate these structural and manufacturing drawbacks and to more effectively solve the problems involved.

In accordance with the present invention, the doll eye is constructed and designed so that:

' l. The doll eye is made to comprise three separate parts, an eyeshelLan eyeball and an iris, these three parts being differently colored to simulate the three different elements of a movable type of 'doll eye, namely the eyelid, the eyeball and the'iris;

"2. This three-part eye is preferably madeas an "all-plastic eye'so that these threefpartsmay 7 Claims. (01.

be produced as colored plastic moldings, making subsequent coloring operations unnecessary and producing a color depth for all of the eye parts which imparts to t e'e e'a desired natural appearance;

3. Each of these three parts is formed or molded 'tothe finally needed'sli'ape', so that the eye maybe assembled without further forming operations, s, by m rely assembling or puttin together theeye'parts'j and I 4. This tnreeparteye' is so constructed that eyelash'members, ma" be readily assembled thereto to produce improved type of eyelashdoll eye.

To the accomplishment oi the foregoing objects and such other-"objects as may'hereinafte appear, my'prejsent invention relates to the doll eye sought to be defined in the appended claims'and as "described in the "following specification taken together in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is'averticalsection taken through a'doll head, the view showing an eye set containing one of the eyes of the present invention, the doll head being shown invertical position and the eye 'in an open condition;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, but showing thedoll head in a reclined position and the eye in a, sleeping condition;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view, taken on an enlarged scale, of the doll eye of the present invention,

showing the three separate parts thereof, two

partsof the threepart eye being shown in sec-' tion;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary part of a detail embodyingamod-ificationj I Fig.5 is an enlarged partially sectioned view of the assembled eye, 'the'section being tak'enin the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is afront elevational view of the eye shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view illustrating an eye mounting;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal partially sectioned view of an eye, this View showing 'a'different eye set mounting for the eye and thus embodying a modification of the eye structure itself; and

Fig. 9 is a partially sectioned view of the modification of Fig. 8, taken in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and having reference first to Figs. 1 to 3andv 5 and 6 thereof, the doll eye of the present inventioncomprises a three-part eye consisting of an eye shell generally, designated as.S provided with a ifrontiopening Lu-said eye shell bei adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket I2 of a doll head H, an eyeball part B having a front opening I4, the .eyeball part B being inserted into and mounted in the opening I of the eye shell S, and an iris or lens part I inserted into and mounted in the opening I4 of the eyeball part B, these three parts being shown in exploded condition in Fig. 3 of the drawings andin assembled condition in the remaining figures of the drawings. 7

The eye shell S is colored to simulate an eyelid,

the eyeball part B is colored tosimulate the ball of an eye and the iris part I is colored to simulate the lens and pupil of the eye. The eyeball part B has an outside contour (its meeting edge with the opening of the eye shell S) which corresponds to the contour of the opening of the eye socket I2, as best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The eye shell, eyeball and iris are otherwise so constructed that the outside faces of the same lie in a continuous spherical surface, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and of the drawings. With this construction, it will be observed particularly from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that when the doll head is in the vertical position with the eyein open condition, only the eyeball B will be visible through the eye opening of the doll head, and that when the doll head is in. the reclinedposition, with the eye in the sleeping condition, the eye shell S, colored to simulate the eyelid of the eye, will be exposed and visible at eye opening of the doll head. To accomplish the results the eye shell S is colored with a flesh color to simulate the eyelid, the eyeball part B is colored white to simulate the ball of the eye and the iris part I is suitably tinted to simulate the blue or brown color of the lens of the eye. This three-part structure of the doll eye thus enables the different individual coloring of the eye shell, eyeball and the iris to meet or satisfy the needs or conditions met with in the manufacture of a movable type of doll eye.

Preferably, and to follow out the additional advantages secured by the present invention, each of these three parts which compose the final doll eye, namely: the shell S, the ball part B, and the iris part I is made of a plastic material. The desired color, particularly for the eye shell S and. the eyeball part B, is imparted to the eye in the making of the plastic pieces (the shell and the ball part). The desired color may also be imparted during the molding operation of the iris I, but preferably the color is imparted thereto by a separate operation to be described hereinbelow, this being preferred for the purpose of giving the desired depth and lustre to the iris or lens of the eye. The making of these parts, particularly the eye shell and the ball part, as colored plastic units or molded pieces makes unnecessary any subsequent coloring operations and moreover produces a color depth for these parts which imparts to all of the eye parts a desired very natural appearance.

This'three-part all-plastic doll eye is further more so preferably constructed that the three parts may be assembled to produce the doll eye merely or solely by the inserting and mounting of the eyeball part into the eye shell and the iris part into the eyeball part. This will be best seen by comparing Figs. '3 and 5 of the drawings.

the iris part is then inserted andmounted into the opening I4 of the eyeball part B. These parts, particularly when made of a plastic material, have engaging walls which are thick enough and which are sufiiciently resilient so that these parts may be thus assembled and interlocked simply by inserting one element into the other in this telescoping fashion, without the necessity of any additional forming or fastening operations.

, This three-part doll eye is furthermore so designed and constructed that eyelash members caved condition into the opening ID of the eye shell at its eyelash position therein is clamped in this position by the insertion of the ball part B V in the shell opening I 0. The eyelash is, therefore, secured in position by this assembling and clamping operation, making it unnecessary to employ Either the eyeball part B and the iris I are first assembled together and this pre-a ssembled eyeball-iris structure is assembled to theeye shell S, or the eyeball B is first inserted and mounted .into the eye opening III of the eye shell S and adhesive and an adhesive applying operation now commonly used in the art. Furthermore,

with this construction, an eyelash type of doll eye is produced without the use of shell slitting operations and without the use of added lid members which are so disadvantageous in priorstruc tures'and whichhave been commonly used in a the building of eyelash type of doll eyes.

The parts of the three-part eye when made of 7 plastic material may be given the shape and con figuration, best shown in Fig. 3 0f the drawings. The eye shell S in addition to being formedwith the front opening I0 is formed with a mounting seat I6, centrally apertured asat I8. The ball part B is outwardly contoured as at 2D to be re.

ceived by the shell seat I6, and is inwardly con toured as at 22 to (form a seat for the iris I, this ball part being also centrally apertured as at 24.

The iris part I, spherically curved at its outer face 7 2B, is contoured as at 28 to be received by the seat 22 of the eyeball part B and is provided centrally with a cylindrical or plug part 38 adapted to be fitted into the aperture 24 of the eyeball partB and to be exposed at its rear at the aperture I8 of the eye shell S When the parts are assembled together as shown in Fig.5 of the drawings. The

engaging walls of these eye parts are adapted to have a close or press fit, but preferably there is a clearance between the wall 28' of the iris I and its seat 22' of the eyeball part, and there is a clearance between the wall 20' of the eyeball part and its seat I6 of the eye shell to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the parts.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the eyelash L is shown with its mounting end 32 kinked over the corner 34 of-the eyeball part to help anchor the eyelash in place. In the modification shown in Fig. 4 a special recess 36 is formed in the eye shell S to receive the mounting end of the eyelash member L, which recess locates the eyelashduring its After assembling the parts of the eye, the plug protruding end 36 of the iris part I is preferably sprayed with a black cementing fluid to provide a black pupil center 38 for the irisor lens I. The cementing fluid may at the same time serve to ce The eyelash' member L after being placed in its curled or conattachment.

ment the eyelash, the eyeball part, the iris and the shell together, although this additional attaching or cementing is unnecessary where the parts are made from a plastic material. As a cementing fluid, any solvent for the plastic material may be used. The cementing fluid is indicated in Fig. by the heavy shading Mi; its effect to cement the parts together is also indi-- cated in this figure and its effect in creating a dark pupil center 38 for the eye is indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In Figs. 5 and 7 (as well as in Figs. 1 and 2) a commonly known eye mounting is shown for this doll eye comprising a metal plate $2 for each eye, the metal plate being carried by a, frictional fitting axle 44, the purpose for this kind of mounting being to allow the eyes to be adjusted to the eye openings in a doll head.

The modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings employs instead of the metal plates d2, ribs 46, 46 which are molded integrally with the eye shell S In mounting the eye of Figs. 8 and 9, the axle 44 is forced through one wall of the eye shell and then into the ribs 46, 56. The other parts of the eye shell of this modification are otherwise similar to the parts described in con nection with Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings and are, therefore, designated by similar reference characters differentiated by the exponent Z, the walls of some of the parts being, however, differently contoured.

The structure of the doll eye of the present invention and the manner of making the same and the advantages flowing therefrom will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It will be further apparent that while I have shown the invention in the preferred forms, that many changes may be made in the structure thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A doll eye comprising an eye shell having a front opening, said eye shell being adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket of a doll head, an eyeball part having a front opening, the eyeball part being inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eye shell, and an iris part inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eyeball part, the eye shell being colored to simulate an eyelid, the eyeball part being colored to simulate the ball of an eye, and the iris part being colored to simulate the lens of an eye.

2. A doll eye comprising an eye shell having a front opening, said eye shell being adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket of a doll head, an eyeball part having a front opening, the eyeball part, having an outside contour corresponding to the contour of the shell opening, being inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eye shell, and an iris part inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eyeball part, the outside faces of the eye shell, the eyeball part and the iris part lying in a continuous spherical surface, the eye shell being colored, to simulate an eyelid, the eyeball part being colored to simulate the ball of an eye, and the iris part being colored to simulate the lens of an eye.

3. A doll eye comprising an eye shell having a front opening, said eye shell being adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket of a doll head, an eyeball part having a front opening, the eyeball part being inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eye shell, an iris part inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eyeball part, and an eyelash member inserted and held between the eye shell and the eyeball part, the eye shell being colored to simulate an eyelid, the eyeball part being colored to simulate the ball of an eye, and the iris part being colored to simulate the lens of an eye.

4. An all-plastic doll eye comprising an eye shell having a front opening, said eye shell being adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket of a doll head, an eyeball part having a front opening, the eyeball part being inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eye shell, and an iris part inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eyeball part, the said eye shell, eyeball part and iris part comprising separate elements before assembly, each made of a plastic material, the eye shell being flesh colored to simulate an eyelid, the eyeball part being white colored to simulate the ball of an eye, and the iris part being colored to simulate the lens of an eye.

5. The all-plastic doll eye of claim 4 in which the three separate eye shell, eyeball and iris elements are shaped so as to be assembled and held together solely by interfitting relationship by frontal insertion of the eyeball part into the eye shell and the iris part into the eyeball part.

6. An all-plastic doll eye comprising an eye shell having a front opening, said eye shell being adapted to be fitted into and to rotate within the eye socket of a, doll head, an eyeball part having a front opening, the eyeball part being inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eye shell, an iris part inserted into and mounted in the opening of the eyeball part, and an eyelash member in addition to said eye inserted and held between the eye shell and the eyeball part, the said eye shell, eyeball part and iris part comprising separate elements before assembly, each made of a plastic material, the eye shell being flesh colored to simulate an eyelid, the eye ball part being white colored to simulate the ball of an eye, and the iris part being colored to simulate the lens of an eye.

7. The all-plastic doll eye of claim 6 in which the eye shell, eyeball part, the iris part and the eyelash member are shaped so as to be assembled and held together solely by interfitting relationship by frontal insertion of the eyeball part into the eye shell and of the iris part into the eyeball part with the eyelash member inserted between the eye shell and the eyeball part.

DAVID COHN. 

